The Aviator's Wife: A Novel

ISBN: 0345528670

Author: Benjamin, Melanie

Condition: New

In the spirit of Loving Frank and The Paris Wife, acclaimed novelist Melanie Benjamin pulls back the curtain on the marriage of one of Americas most extraordinary couples: Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.The history [is] exhilarating. . . . The Aviators Wife soars.-USA TodayNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFor much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charless assurance and fame, Anne is certain the aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements-she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States-Anne is viewed merely as the aviators wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, lifes infinite possibilities for change and happiness.Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century-from the late twenties to the mid-sixties-and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviators Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage-revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.Praise for The Aviators WifeRemarkable . . . The Aviators Wife succeeds [in] putting the reader inside Anne Lindberghs life with her famous husband.-The Denver PostAnne Morrow Lindbergh narrates the story of the Lindberghs troubled marriage in all its triumph and tragedy.-USA Today[This novel] will fascinate history buffs and surprise those who know of her only as the aviators wife. -PeopleIts hard to quit reading this intimate historical fiction.-The Dallas Morning NewsFictional biography at its finest.-Booklist (starred review)Utterly unforgettable.-Publishers Weekly (starred review)An intimate examination of the life and emotional mettle of Anne Morrow.-The Washington PostA story of both triumph and pain that will take your breath away.-Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker